新发HIV/AIDS患者抑郁心理干预效果及其与CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数的关系研究

背景HIV/AIDS与抑郁症相关,抑郁症加大HIV相关认知紊乱(HAND)风险,并降低患者抗逆转录病毒治疗(ART)依从性,加剧HIV传播风险。国内研究较少报道新发HIV/AIDS患者(PLWHA)抑郁心理干预效果及与CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数相关性。目的探究新发PLWHA抑郁心理干预效果及与CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数相关性,为AIDS临床诊疗提供参考。方法2020年4月—2022年6月采用方便取样方法在江西省ART定点医院抽取新发PLWHA抑郁患者,患者确诊后立即启动ART及心理干预,干预总周期为12周。在干预前后采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)进行评估,并检测CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数进行分析。结果共纳入新发PLWHA抑郁患者200例,有效随访178例,有效率为89.0%。178例PLWHA抑郁患者轻中度88例(49.4%)、重度90例(50.6%),伴焦虑者173例(97.2%)。患者CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数均值在干预前为(346.39±156.87)个/μL,干预后为(421.93±149.61)个/μL。干预后,新发PLWHA抑郁患者CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数高于干预前(t_(配对)=10.971,P<0.05),HAMD、HAMA总分及各因子评分均低于干预前(P<0.05)。干预前,HAMD总分与CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数分级(以500个/μL为分界值)呈负相关(r_(s)=-0.157,P=0.036)、与HAMA总分呈正相关(r_(s)=0.764,P<0.001)。干预后,HAMD总分与干预后CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数呈负相关(r_(s)=-0.150,P=0.046)、与HAMA总分呈强正相关(r_(s)=0.939,P<0.001)。干预前,新发PLWHA抑郁患者CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数<500个/μL者HAMD、HAMA总分高于CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数≥500个/μL者(P<0.05)。结论新发PLWHA抑郁严重程度与CD_(4)^(+)T细胞计数相关,经专业心理干预能显著改善。

Correlation between Abdominal Ultrasonographic Findings and CD4 Cell Count in Adult Patients with HIV/AIDS in Jos, Nigeria

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) resulting in progressive destruction of cell mediated immunity. The abdominal manifestations of AIDS are related to the level of CD+4 cells count as well as viral load. Abdominal ultrasound examination is easy to perform, non-invasive, inexpensive, readily available and reproducible investigation which provides valuable information about abdominal findings in AIDS. The objective of the study was to evaluate abdominal ultrasound findings in adult HIV/AIDS patients in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria and correlate these findings with the patients’ CD+4 counts. A cross-sectional study of abdominal ultrasound findings of adult patients with HIV/AIDS was conducted over a period of six months. The abdominal ultrasound findings and CD+4 counts were studied. Two hundred (40%) of the patients had normal abdominal ultrasound, while 60% (300) had various abnormalities. The common abnormalities included increased liver parenchymal echogenicity in 25.0%, hepatomegaly in 23.4%, splenomegaly in 6.6%, increased splenic echogenicity in 6.2% and thickened gallbladder wall in 12.6%, elevated renal parenchymal echogenicity in 6.4%, enlarged kidneys in 2.6%, lymphadenopathy in 6.0%, and ascites in 2.4%. Pelvic abscess was the least pathology in 0.2%. Most of the findings did not correlate with the patients’ CD+4?count except for lymphadenopathy and ascites. Although abdominal ultrasound examination is invaluable in the management of these patients, however, it has not shown to be useful in predicting the patients’ immune status.

CD4 T-Lymphocytes Count in HIV-<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>Co-Infected Pregnant Women Undergoing a Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Program

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a parasite responsible of toxoplasmosis, a disease often asymptomatic but with serious consequences in pregnant women and immunocompromised subjects. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of T. gondii infection on CD4+ T lymphocytes count in HIV-infected pregnant women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of pregnant women co-infected by HIV and T. gondii. The study was conducted from January to July 2016 at the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) sites in the Health District of Lacs in Togo. Diagnosis of HIV was performed by immuno-chromatographic methods with Determine TM HIV-1/2 and immuno-filtration with Tri-Dot HIV-1 and 2 kits. Presence of anti-toxoplasmic IgG and IgM antibodies was established via enzyme immunoassay using ELISA-BIOREX&reg;kit. Flow cytometry was used to count CD4+ T lymphocytes. Results: Our study found that of the 4599 pregnant women, 111 (2.41%) were HIV-positive. Among them, 109 (98.20%) were infected by HIV-1 and 2 (1.98%) by HIV-2. Antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 5.36% (IgM), 25% (IgG) and 3.57% (both IgM and IgG) of HIV 56 infected women. There was no significant difference between CD4 cell count in HIV (+)/T. gondii IgM (-)/IgG (-) infected pregnant women (378.8 ± 222.8 cell//μl) compared to HIV (+)/T. gondii/IgM (+) (457.3 ± 183.3 cell//μl), HIV (+)/T. gondii IgG (+) (419.4 ± 287.3 cell//μl) and HIV (+)/T. gondii IgM/IgG (+) (480.5 ± 252.4 cell/μl). Conclusion: This study showed that intracellular parasite T. gondii did not alter CD4+ T lymphocytes count in HIV/T. gondii co-infected pregnant women.

Sustained heavy ethanol drinking affects CD4⁺cell counts in HIV-infected patients on stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC) and nevirapine (NVP) treatment regimen during 9 months follow-up period

Sustained heavy ethanol drinking is a common problem globally and ethanol is one of the most abused drugs among individuals of different socio-economic status including the HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral drugs. Ethanol is reward drug and a CNS depressant especially at high doses. The study determined the effect of sustained heavy ethanol drinking by HIV-infected patients on d4T/3TC/NVP regimen on CD4+ cell counts in Uganda using WHO AUDIT tool and chronic alcohol-use biomarkers. A case control study using repeated measures design with serial measurements model was used. The patients on stavudine (d4T) 30 mg, lamivudine (3TC) 150 mg and nevirapine (NVP) 200 mg and chronic alcohol use were recruited. A total of 41 patients (20 in alcohol group and 21 in control group) were screened for chronic alcohol use by WHO AUDIT tool and chronic alcohol use biomarkers. They were followed up for 9 months with blood sampling done at 3 months intervals. CD4+ cell count was determined using Facscalibur Flow Cytometer system. Results were then sorted by alcohol-use biomarkers (GGT, MCV and AST/ ALT ratio). Data were analysed using SAS 2003 version 9.1 statistical package with repeated measures fixed model and the means were compared using student t-test. The mean CD4+ cell counts in all the groups were lower than the reference ranges at baseline and gradually increased at 3, 6 and 9 months of follow-up. The mean CD4+ cell counts were higher in the control group as compared to the chronic alcohol use group in both WHO AUDIT tool group and chronic alcohol-use biomarkers group though there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). Chronic alcohol use slightly lowers CD4+ cell count in HIV-infected patients on d4T/3TC/NVP treatment regimen.

Detection of microbial antigenic components of circulating immune complexes in HIV patients:Involvement in CD4^+ T lymphocyte count depletion

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of microbial antigenic components of circulating immune complexes amongst grades of CD4 T lymphocyte counts in HIV sero positive and seronegative participants.Methods:Polyethelene glycol(PEG-600) and buffering methods of precipitation and dissociation of immune complexes was used to generate immune solution from sera of 100 HIV sero-positive and 100 HIV sero-negative participants.These were categorized into 3 grades based on CD4 count:】 500 cell/mm,200-499 cell/mm3 and 【200 cell/mm3.The immune solutions were assayed using membrane based immunoassay and antibody titration, along side its unprocessed serum for detection of various microbial antigens and or antibodies. CD4 T cell counts were estimated using Patec Cyflow SL-3 Germany.Results:Antigenic component of immune complexes of various infectious agents was detected in 99 and 70 HIV seropositive and HIV sero-negative participants,respectively.In group A,there were 10 HIV positive participants,including 4(40.0%) had circulating immune complexes(CICs) due to Salmonella species only:1(10.0%) due to Salmonella-Plasmodium falciparum(P.falciparum),SalmonellaP. falciparum-HCV and P.falciparum antigens,respectively.In group B,45(45.4%) HIV seropositive participants with CICs had CD4 T lymphocyte count between 200-499 cells/mm^3.Out of these,20(44.4%) had CICs due to Salmonella species only:9(20%) due to Salmonella-P. falciparum.In group C,there were 44(44.4%) HIV sero-positive participants,including 3(6.8%) due to Salmonella species only:24(54.4%) due to Salmonella-P.falciparum:2(4.5%) due to P. falciparum only.Conclusions:In HIV sero-positive participants,presence of heterogeneity of Salmonella species-P.falciparum antigens was highly incriminated in CD4 count depletion but not homogeneity of malaria parasites antigens.Malaria parasites antigens only were incriminated in CD4^+ count depletion amongst HIV sero-negative participants.Before taking any decision on the management of HIV-1-positive individuals,their malaria and Salmonella paratyphi status should be assessed,but not malaria status alone.

Correlation Analysis on Total Lymphocyte Count and CD4 Count in HIV-infected Patients: A Retrospective Evaluation

CD4 count is the standard method for determining eligibility for highly active antiretroviral therapy （HAART） and monitoring HIV/AIDS disease progression, but it is not widely available in resource-limited settings. This study examined the correlation between total lymphocyte count （TLC） and CD4 count of HIV-infected patients before and after HAART, and assessed the thresholds of TLC for making decisions about the initiation and for monitoring HAART. A retrospective study was performed, and 665 HIV-infected patients with TLC and CD4 count from four counties （Shangcai, Queshan, Shenqiu and Weishi） were included in the study. Pearson correlation and receiver operating characteristic （ROC） were used. TLC and CD4 count after HAART was significantly increased as compared with pre-HAART （P〈0.01）. An overall positive correlation was noted between TLC and CD4 count （pre-HAART, r=0.73, P=0.0001; follow-up HAART, r=0.56, P=0.0001）. The ROC curve between TLC and CD4 count showed that TLC ≤ 1200 cells/mm3 could predict CD4 〈 200 cells/mm3 with a sensitivity of 71.12%, specificity of 66.35% at pre-HAART. After 12-month HAART, the optimum prediction for CD4 count 〈 200 cells/mm3 was a TLC ≤ 1300 cells/mm3, with a sensitivity of 63.27%, and a specificity of 74.84%. Further finding indicated that TLC change was positively correlated to CD4 change （r=0.77, P=0.0001） at the time point of 12-month treatment, and the best prediction point of TLC change for CD4 increasing was 135 cells/mm3. TLC and its change can be used as a surrogate marker for CD4 count and its change of HIV-infected individuals for making decisions about the initiation and for monitoring HAART in resource-limited settings.

Assessing the effect of traditional Chinese medicine on CD4+ lymphocyte count of 807 HIV/AIDS cases

National Free Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) HIV/AIDS Treatment Program had been carried out for more than 5 years, treating 9267 cases accumulately by 2009. We report the 3-year outcome on CD4+ lymphocyte count of 807 cases of HIV/AIDS enrolled in the National Free TCM HIV/AIDS Treatment Pro- gram, the CD4+ lymphocyte count were measured every 6 month at 7 time points (0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 month). The results showed that the overall CD4+ ly mphocyte count maintained stable at the 6th month and the 12th month, declined significantly at the 18th month, 24th month and 30th month, then elevated to the pre-treatment level at the 36th month. Patients with pre-treatment CD4+ lymphocyte count level 350/mm3 had CD4+ lymphocyte count declined significantly after all visits. In summary, combined treatment of Chinese herbal medicine and conventional therapy on HIV/AIDS suggested promising effect, but more evidences from larger, rigorous designed studies still needed to support the affirmative effect of TCM in the future.

Study of Cardiac Manifestations in Patients with HIV Infection and Their Correlation with CD4 Count in Indian Population

Introduction: With advances in the management of patients living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA), not only survival has increased but manifestations of late stage HIV infection are encountered more often including cardiovascular complications. Aims and Objectives: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of cardiac manifestations in patients with HIV infection and to evaluate their correlation with CD4 count. Materials and Method: 70 consecutive patients with HIV infection admitted to Post Graduate Department of Medicine from the period of July 2010 to August 2011 were studied. All cases of PLHA diagnosed after positive ELISA test for HIV infection were included, whereas those with congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, hypertension, Ischemic heart disease were excluded from the study. CD4 count and 2D echocardiography along with routine investigations were done for all patients. Result: Male to female ratio was 2:1. Echocardiographic abnormalities were seen in 58% of patients. Reduced ejection fraction (below 50%) and fractional shortening below 30% were the most common cardiac abnormality (48.7%) followed by pericardial effusion (17.4%), pulmonary artery hypertension (11.4%), dilated cardiomyopathy (8.5%), diastolic dysfunction (8.5%) and regional wall motion abnormality (1.4%) respectively. Significant statistical positive correlation was observed between low CD4 count and echocardiographic abnormalities (p < 0.0001). Pericardial effusion was seen more in patients with CD4 count below 200 (p < 0.001). Maximum number of echocardiographic abnormalities was seen in WHO clinical stage IV. Conclusions: Cardiac manifestations are frequent PLHA in our population but do not have detectable clinical manifestation. Echocardiographic abnormalities have a strong correlation with low CD4 count and occur more in advanced stage of the disease.

中国HIV/AIDS患者CD_4^+CD_8^+T淋巴细胞与外周血各组份间关系的研究

目的 研究艾滋病病毒 /艾滋病 (HIV/AIDS)患者CD+ 4 、CD+ 8T淋巴细胞数与外周血各组份间白细胞(WBC)、血小板 (PLT)、血红蛋白 (HGB)、粒细胞百分数 (GR % )、淋巴细胞百分数 (LY % )、LY的相关性 ,为临床治疗提供参考依据。方法 HIV/AIDS患者抗凝外周血 5 13份 ,在 6小时之内检测其血细胞分类和CD+ 4 、CD+ 8T淋巴细胞计数 ,比较CD+ 4 、CD+ 8T淋巴细胞计数与WBC、HGB、PLT、LY %、GR %和LY的相关性。结果 CD4/CD8全部倒置 ,其中CD4/CD8<1者达 94 7% ;CD+ 4 细胞数 <5 0 0 /mm3 与HGB (r=0 16 0 ,P <0 0 1)、PLT (r=- 0 0 14 ,P <0 0 1)、GR % (r=- 0 2 81,P<0 0 1)、LY % (r =0 32 1,P <0 0 1)、LY((r =0 4 94 ,P <0 0 1)相关均有非常显著的统计学意义 ;CD+ 8细胞数与WBC数 (r=0 112 ,P <0 0 5 )、HGB (r=0 131,P <0 0 1) 、GR % (r=- 0 5 2 6 ,P <0 0 1)、LY % (r=0 5 6 9,P <0 0 1)、LY (r=0 90 4 ,P <0 0 1) 相关均有显著性 ;2 0 0 /mm3 <CD+ 4 细胞数 <5 0 0 /mm3 与LY (r=0 2 79,P <0 0 1)、PLT (r=0 192 ,P <0 0 1) 相关有显著性 ,CD+ 4 细胞数 <2 0 0 /mm3 与LY (r =0 2 6 2 ,P<0 0 1)、LY % (r =0 2 79,P<0 0 1)、GR % (r =- 0 2 94 ,P<0 0 1)

HIV感染者病毒载量和CD_4淋巴细胞计数的意义

[目的 ] 探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒 (HIV)病毒载量和CD4 淋巴细胞计数作为HIV感染者病情演变指征的意义。[方法 ] 对上海地区HIV感染者定期随访HIV病毒载量和CD4 淋巴细胞计数的变化 ,分别采用bDNA和流式细胞仪进行检测 ,所有数据均在计算机上采用SPSS软件统计分析两种指标的趋势和相关性。 [结果 ] 检测 2 82份标本 ,血浆病毒载量界于 <10 2 至 >5× 10 5拷贝数 /mL ,CD4 淋巴细胞计数 8～ 5 0 0个 /mm3;病毒载量和淋巴细胞两者存在明显的相关性 ,呈负相关趋势。 [结论 ] HIV病毒载量和CD4 淋巴细胞不仅具有明显的相关性 ,而且完全可作为HIV感染者有效的观察疾病演变的指标 。

160例成人HIV感染者/AIDS患者机会性感染与CD_4^+之间关系分析

目的 分析中国成人艾滋病病毒 (HIV)感染者 /艾滋病 (AIDS)患者机会性感染发生的频率与CD+4 细胞数之间的关系。方法 对 1990～ 2 0 0 1在北京佑安医院就诊的 160例成人HIV感染者 /AIDS患者CD+4 、CD+8进行跟踪分析。结果 ( 1)CD+4 >5 0 0个 / μl 66人次 ( 12 7% ) ,CD+4 为 2 0 0个 / μl～ 5 0 0个 / μl 2 12人次 ( 41 1% ) ,CD+4 <2 0 0个 / μl 2 3 4人次 ( 45 3 % )。在CD+4 <个 2 0 0 / μl中 ,CD+4 <10 0个 / μl 12 8人次 ( 2 4 8% ) ,CD+4 <5 0个 / μl 89人次( 17 2 % )。 ( 2 )CD+4 >2 0 0个 / μl时 ,共发生机会性感染 3 3人次 ( 15 6% )。CD+4 <2 0 0个 / μl时 ,共发生机会性感染170人次 ( 72 6% ) ,CD+4 为 10 0个 / μl～ 2 0 0个 / μl之间发生机会性感染 42人次 ( 3 9 6% ) ,CD+4 <10 0个 / μl发生机会性感染 12 8人次 ( 98 4% ) ,其中CD+4 <5 0个 / μl发生机会性感染 87人次 ( 97 8% )。 结论 中国成人HIV感染者 /AIDS患者在CD+4 >2 0 0个 / μl时机会性感染出现频率较少 ,CD+4 <2 0 0个 / μl时机会性感染的频率明显增加 ;CD+4 <10 0个 / μl和 <5 0个 / μl时 ,感染率约为 10 0 %。

Challenges in Managing Hospitalized HIV Infected Persons with Low Absolute CD4 and Preserved CD4 Percentage

Background: HIV infected persons are at risk for opportunistic illnesses based upon severity of immune deficiency. Management is generally based upon the most recent absolute CD4 count. We hypothesized there is a group of patients with a low absolute CD4 count and preserved CD4 percentage that are at low risk of AIDS-related opportunistic illnesses (OI). Methods: A retrospective review of medical records in HIV-infected persons hospitalized from 2004-2006. Individuals without CD4 counts available within 180 days of admission and during hospitalization were excluded. Patients with a decrease in the absolute CD4 count during hospitalization and stable CD4 percentage were compared to the rest of the cohort. Appropriate management was defined using DHHS guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic illnesses in HIV infection. Results: 464 patients had 978 hospitalizations. In 221 hospitalizations (N = 161 patients) inpatient and outpatient CD4 counts were available. In 35 hospitalizations (N = 25 patients) the absolute CD4 count declined with stable CD4 percent (cases). Cases had an average decline in CD4 of –197 cells/mm3 compared to –5 cells/mm3 in the comparator group. 30% of comparators had AIDS defining OI's compared to none in the case group (p = 0.01). Management outside of DHHS guidelines was more common in cases compared to the comparator group (49% vs 30%, p = 0.048). The median length of stay was prolonged in cases with management outside guidelines compared to appropriately managed persons in the comparator group (7 days vs 3.5 days, p = 0.03). Conclusion: In persons on potent antiretroviral therapy, abrupt declines in absolute CD4 counts without an accompanying change in CD4 percentage are associated with a low risk of AIDS related opportunistic infection, a higher rate of in-patient management outside DHHS guidelines, and a more prolonged length of stay.

Correlation of Whole Blood Zinc Levels,CD4 Cell Count,Disease Stage,and Dermatologic Manifestations Among HIV Patients:A Single Center Experience in Philippines

Objective:Zinc deficiency is the most common micronutrient abnormality seen in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection.Depletion of CD4 cells is a hallmark of HIV infection.The study aims to determine the association between whole blood zinc levels and CD4 cell count and stage of HIV infection among patients in a tertiary hospital in the Philippines.Methods:Sixty-five newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients of the institution were recruited.Demographic profile,whole blood zinc levels,CD4 cell count level,HIV disease stage,and presence of any dermatologic manifestations were noted.Prevalence of zinc deficiency and correlation between whole blood zinc levels and CD4 cell count were determined.The data were analyzed by chi-square and pearson correlation analysis.Results:Among the 65 patients,overall zinc deficiency was noted at 33.8%.Low CD4 count and HIV disease stage IV participants had the highest percentage of zinc deficiency at 54.6%and 50%,respectively.A correlation coefficient atr=0.3364 was noted between whole blood zinc levels and CD4 cell count(P=0.006).Twenty-nine patients presented with dermatologic manifestations,with 10 patients being zinc deficient.Conclusion:A weak positive correlation was seen between zinc levels and CD4 count.There is an increasing frequency of zinc level deficiency with a higher HIV disease stage.Dermatologic manifestations of HIV may be present in both patients with normal and deficient zinc levels.

Exploring the Impact of Factors Affecting the Lifespan of HIVs/AIDS Patient’s Survival: An Investigation Using Advanced Statistical Techniques

This study investigates the impact of various factors on the lifespan and diagnostic time of HIV/AIDS patients using advanced statistical techniques. The Power Chris-Jerry (PCJ) distribution is applied to model CD4 counts of patients, and the goodness-of-fit test confirms a strong fit with a p-value of 0.6196. The PCJ distribution is found to be the best fit based on information criteria (AIC and BIC) with the smallest negative log-likelihood, AIC, and BIC values. The study uses datasets from St. Luke hospital Uyo, Nigeria, containing HIV/AIDS diagnosis date, age, CD4 count, gender, and opportunistic infection dates. Multiple linear regression is employed to analyze the relationship between these variables and HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The results indicate that age, CD4 count, and opportunistic infection significantly impact the diagnostic time, while gender shows a nonsignificant relationship. The F-test confirms the model's overall significance, indicating the factors are good predictors of HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The R-squared value of approximately 72% suggests that administering antiretroviral therapy (ART) can improve diagnostic time by suppressing the virus and protecting the immune system. Cox proportional hazard modeling is used to examine the effects of predictor variables on patient survival time. Age and CD4 count are not significant factors in the hazard of HIV/AIDS diagnostic time, while opportunistic infection is a significant predictor with a decreasing effect on the hazard rate. Gender shows a strong but nonsignificant relationship with decreased risk of death. To address the violation of the assumption of proportional hazard, the study employs an assumption-free alternative, Aalen’s model. In the Aalen model, all predictor variables except age and gender are statistically significant in relation to HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing diagnostic time and survival of HIV/AIDS patients, which can inform interventions aimed at reducing transmission and improving early diagnosis and treatment. The Power Chris-Jerry distribution proves to be a suitable fit for modeling CD4 counts, while multiple linear regression and survival analysis techniques provide insights into the relationships between predictor variables and diagnostic time. These results contribute to the understanding of HIV/AIDS patient outcomes and can guide public health interventions to enhance early detection, treatment, and care.

Exploring the Impact of Factors Affecting the Lifespan of HIVs/AIDS Patient’s Survival: An Investigation Using Advanced Statistical Techniques

This study investigates the impact of various factors on the lifespan and diagnostic time of HIV/AIDS patients using advanced statistical techniques. The Power Chris-Jerry (PCJ) distribution is applied to model CD4 counts of patients, and the goodness-of-fit test confirms a strong fit with a p-value of 0.6196. The PCJ distribution is found to be the best fit based on information criteria (AIC and BIC) with the smallest negative log-likelihood, AIC, and BIC values. The study uses datasets from St. Luke hospital Uyo, Nigeria, containing HIV/AIDS diagnosis date, age, CD4 count, gender, and opportunistic infection dates. Multiple linear regression is employed to analyze the relationship between these variables and HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The results indicate that age, CD4 count, and opportunistic infection significantly impact the diagnostic time, while gender shows a nonsignificant relationship. The F-test confirms the model's overall significance, indicating the factors are good predictors of HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The R-squared value of approximately 72% suggests that administering antiretroviral therapy (ART) can improve diagnostic time by suppressing the virus and protecting the immune system. Cox proportional hazard modeling is used to examine the effects of predictor variables on patient survival time. Age and CD4 count are not significant factors in the hazard of HIV/AIDS diagnostic time, while opportunistic infection is a significant predictor with a decreasing effect on the hazard rate. Gender shows a strong but nonsignificant relationship with decreased risk of death. To address the violation of the assumption of proportional hazard, the study employs an assumption-free alternative, Aalen’s model. In the Aalen model, all predictor variables except age and gender are statistically significant in relation to HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing diagnostic time and survival of HIV/AIDS patients, which can inform interventions aimed at reducing transmission and improving early diagnosis and treatment. The Power Chris-Jerry distribution proves to be a suitable fit for modeling CD4 counts, while multiple linear regression and survival analysis techniques provide insights into the relationships between predictor variables and diagnostic time. These results contribute to the understanding of HIV/AIDS patient outcomes and can guide public health interventions to enhance early detection, treatment, and care.

Cell Host＆Microbe：科学家称HIV可感染造血干细胞

尽管当前的艾滋病病毒（HIV）／艾滋病（AIDS）治疗力争能够控制这种疾病，但任何治疗的最终目标都是完全消灭这种病毒。不幸的是，完全消灭HIV是一项非常艰巨的任务，因为这种病毒在休眠的CD4＋T细胞中建立了潜在的储藏库。美国科学家目前研究发现，HIV能够传染造血干细胞（HSC），因此，HIV的储藏库可能比之前的预想更为持久。研究人员认为，这一发现为拓展新的艾滋病疗法提供了可能。

Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cells and <i>γ</i>/<i>δ</i>T Cells May Improve Immunity in Treating Secondary Bacteremic Infection in HIV Infected Patient

Opportunistic bacteremia in adult HIV-infected patients is a normal co-infectious condition caused by Gram-negative bacilli. Respiratory infections, including cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain and skin infection with eruptions, pustules and itchiness, are common complaints in the setting of late HIV infection. The variety of infections ranges from mild, self-limited viral, bacteremia and fungal infections to severe, life-threatening demanding urgent care and hospitalization. Varicella pneumonia, for instance, is the most severe complication of chickenpox in HIV infected adults, potentially refractory, fulminant respiratory failure can ensue. Patients with impaired immune status and chronic lung disease are at an increased risk. In the United States as well as in Vietnam, bacterial/viral pneumonia and skin infection are the two most common HIV-associated conditions. While globally the incidence of opportunistic infection has decreased since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy during the last 3 decades, HIV-associated diseases remain a significant source of mortality, thus any manifestation must be taken seriously. This study will present the most common HIV-related pulmonary and skin infections and provide an overview of the epidemiology, characteristic clinical and chest radiograph findings, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention globally as well in Vietnam. Though the extensive efforts of the Vietnamese Government during last decade contributed to a valuable decrease, yet epidemic in Vietnam still remains high, ranking Vietnam 5th in the South-East region. The second part of the study focuses on a unique and severe HIV case report of a 35-year-old man, with a rare form of pneumonia caused by Acitenobacter spp. concomitant with a prolonged and disseminating skin infection. The case has been treated with a combination of conventional anti-retroviral medication and autologous peripheral blood stem cells, the results showed that within 5 months there was an impressive amelioration of HIV viral activity together with a total recovery from pneumonia and skin infection.

3型天然淋巴细胞在HIV-1慢性感染中的免疫特征及其与疾病进展的关系研究

目的探讨HIV-1慢性感染过程中,外周血3型天然淋巴细胞(group 3 innate lymphoid cells,ILC3s)的频率变化及其与疾病进展的关系。方法募集48例HIV-1慢性感染者和17例健康对照,留取外周血并分离单个核细胞,进行流式细胞检测ILC3s频率,同时分析ILC3s频率与患者外周血CD4+T淋巴细胞计数和病毒载量的相关性。结果与健康对照比较,HIV-1感染者外周血总的ILC3s频率显著下降(P<0.001);其中尤以NCR-ILC3s下降更为显著(P<0.001)。进一步分析显示:HIV-1感染者外周血ILC3s频率与CD4+T淋巴细胞计数呈弱正相关(r=0.461,P=0.001),而与血浆病毒载量呈弱负相关(r=-0.399,P=0.005)。结论 HIV-1慢性感染者外周ILC3s显著减少,并与疾病进展密切相关。该研究为阐明HIV-1慢性感染致病机制提供了新的解释。

Integrated Single-cell Multiomic Analysis of HIV Latency Reversal Reveals Novel Regulators of Viral Reactivation

Despite the success of antiretroviral therapy,human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)cannot be cured because of a reservoir of latently infected cells that evades therapy.To understand the mechanisms of HIV latency,we employed an integrated single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)and single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing(scATAC-seq)approach to simultaneously profile the transcriptomic and epigenomic characteristics of~125,000 latently infected primary CD4^(+)T cells after reactivation using three different latency reversing agents.Differentially expressed genes and differentially accessible motifs were used to examine transcriptional pathways and transcription factor(TF)activities across the cell population.We identified cellular transcripts and TFs whose expression/activity was correlated with viral reactivation and demonstrated that a machine learning model trained on these data was 75%-79%accurate at predicting viral reactivation.Finally,we validated the role of two candidate HIV-regulating factors,FOXP1 and GATA3,in viral transcription.These data demonstrate the power of integrated multimodal single-cell analysis to uncover novel relationships between host cell factors and HIV latency.

Challenges in initiating antiretroviral therapy for all HIV-infected people regardless of CD4 cell count

Introduction:Recently published large randomized controlled trials,START,TEMPRANO and HPTN 052 show the clinical benefit of early initiation of antiretroviral treatment(ART)in HIV-infected persons and in reducing HIV transmission.The trials influenced the World Health Organization(WHO)decision to issue updated recommendations to prescribe ART to all individuals living with HIV,irrespective of age and CD4 cell count.Discussion:It is clear that the new 2015 WHO recommendations if followed,will change the face of the HIV epidemic and probably curb its burden over time.Implementation however,requires that health systems,especially those in low and middle-income settings,be ready to face this challenge on a large scale.HIV prevention and treatment are easy in theory yet hard in practice.The new WHO guidelines for initiation of ART regardless of CD4 cell count will lead to upfront increases in the costs of healthcare delivery as the goal is to treat all those now newly eligible for ART.Around 22 million people living with HIV qualify and will therefore require ART.Related challenges immediately follow:firstly,that everyone must be tested for HIV;secondly,that anyone who has had an HIV test should know their result and understand its significance;and,thirdly,that every person identified as HIV-positive should receive and remain on ART.The emergence of HIV drug resistant strains when treatment is started at higher CD4 cell count thresholds is a further concern as persons on HIV treatment for longer periods of time are at increased risk of intermittent medication adherence.Conclusions:The new WHO recommendations for ART are welcome,but lacking as they fail to consider meaningful solutions to the challenges inherent to implementation.They fail to incorporate actual strategies on how to disseminate and adopt these far-reaching guidelines,especially in sub-Saharan Africa,an area with weak healthcare infrastructures.Well-designed,high-quality research is needed to assess the feasibility,safety,acceptability,impact,and cost of innovations such as the universal voluntary testing and immediate treatment approaches,and broad consultation must address community,human rights,ethical,and political concerns.